The
community of Slocan was founded by Frank Fletcher of Nelson,
and was incorporated 1901. It began as a tent town in the
1890's for people who walked the Slocan River trail after
prospectors discovered large silver-lead deposits. The name
Slocan is derived from an Indian word meaning 'pierce, strike
on the head', referring to the practice of spearing
or harpooning the salmon that used to be plentiful throughout
the Slocan area.

The
area was the scene of frenetic silver and lead mining and
communities like Slocan, New Denver, Silverton and Sandon
date from this period. Mines around were worked until high
production costs and low ore prices ended the boom. Rail lines
from the north and south connected with steamboats on the
lake as a vital link in the region's transportation network.
The last train traveled the Slocan Valley rail line with five
carloads of lumber from the Slocan Forest Products mill on
September 14, 1993. Today, a tug and barge service continues
to ferry rail cars from Slocan to Roseberry.

Slocan, which is located in the Central Kootenay Regional
District is 27km south of Silverton, and 68km northwest of
Nelson. The community, along with New Denver and Silverton,
is a gateway to the unspoiled wilderness of Valhalla Provincial
Park. Hiking in the Valhalla exposes the true beauty of the
landscape, and hiking trails are geared for all levels of
difficulty.

Accommodation/Adventure
Providers

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Access and Services: Slocan, located south of Silverton,
can be reached along Highway 6, a secondary highway in good
condition. The community has a general store, post office,
school, restaurant, hotel and pub, garage, library and more.

Accommodations: Provincial parks and commercial lodges
offer wilderness accommodations. There is also a bed &
breakfast, and a hotel, located in Slocan as well as commercial
lodge and campground south of the community.